European Contact: Portugal (dec 23, 1543 – dec 23, 1639)

Description:

Portugal sends ships, merchants, & technology to Japan

1543: first encounter- shipwrecked Portuguese sailors washed up on shores

Portuguese merchants followed
- Portuguese wanted to involve themselves in Japan's trade with China & Southeast Asia
- Portuguese brought clocks, eyeglasses, tobacco, firearms, etc.
- Japanese merchants were happy- more goods & trade

Daimyo (territorial rulers) welcome trade too
- interested in Portuguese muskets & cannons (to have advantage over rivals)
- changed tradition of the Japanese warrior (swords): many samurai retained traditional swords and lost lives to musket fire
- built castles for cannon fire (attracted merchants, artisans, etc.)

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